Baby bottles made using 'dangerous' chemical sold by leading UK stores

Leading British retailers are selling baby bottles that are made with a
chemical that has been linked to breast cancer, heart disease, obesity,
hyperactivity and other disorders.

Mothercare had intended to stop selling bottles made using BPA in January 2010Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By Laura Roberts

1:02PM BST 31 Mar 2010

Bisphenol A (BPA) has already been banned in Canada and three US states. Most manufacturers of baby bottles have stopped putting it in their products but older stock containing the chemical is still on sale at Boots and Mothercare, according to a report by The Independent.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supports its removal and has stated concerns regarding the impact of the chemical on babies and young children.

Although BPA is legal in Britain and the rest of Europe infant feeding brands such as NUK have removed it from their bottles.

Mothercare had intended to stop selling bottles made using BPA in January 2010 but admitted that its schedule to phase out the chemical was behind and the target was now "the end of the year".

A Boots spokesman said: "With the exception of Canada, polycarbonate, which is made from bisphenol A is approved as a food-contact material worldwide. The vast amount of scientific evidence still support its continued safe use."

A spokesman for Mothercare said: "In 2009 we introduced BPA-free alternatives to our product ranges in response to consumer feedback, and Mothercare remains committed to phasing out polycarbonate bottles containing BPA in its own brand feeding and drinking ranges.

"In addition to its own brand BPA-free ranges, Mothercare continues to offer parents the widest possible choice of products that includes a range of BPA-free products from branded manufacturers."

BPA is known as an endocrine disruptor and interferes with the release of the female hormone oestrogen. It can affect disorders associated with metabolism , fertility and neural development. It is widely used in tins of food and canned drinks to toughen the internal lining of the container.

In December last year seven experts from five British universities wrote to Andy Burnham, the health secretary, calling for a review of BPA.

A spokeswoman for Born Free, a BPA free brand, said: "We believe that BPA has been one of the most studied chemicals for decades for a reason. Recent scientific research suggests that small amounts of BPA may leach into foods or beverages stored in polycarbonate containers, especially when the contents are acidic, high in fat or heated."